The Irish standard., 1887-12-17

Bailey, one Of the members Of the Mon,
: tana bar. 1t was at this time, too, that
Mrs. Meagher had arrived at Fort Ben
ton on her way to Join her husband,
and Meagher looked joyously forward
to her companionship and society as
being additional Incentives to his de-
sire to carve outa fortune for himself
in the various enterprises which were
opened to him.
= In the summer of 1867 came the news
of violent Indian outbreak Murders
had been perpetrated on the Yellow
stone and on the road between Helena
and Fort Benton. and Meagher at once
issued his proclamation for the organ
izstion of military command ana
commissioned the officers. EEe was
again Acting Governor in the absence
of Green Clay Smith, VINO had succeed
ed Gov. Edgerton. Heinstfncled them
to proceed at once to the scene of "a.
pine. with the warning, crouched in his
own beautiful imagery, that, every
blade Of grass that spraDg TO the sun
light admonished them that the
minutes surely shortened between the
arms and the red cond Of war that was
| travelling toward them with the stealth
and aftihce Of Indian cunning Then
Meagher started for Fort Benton,
where he wished to superinteud the
arrival OF arms and munitions for the
equipment Of the militia and afterwards
reion The troops in tEt,sesiS sldtin Valley.
He reached Fort Bento in the evening
| Of July 1, 1867, worn out by long days
ride ia the saddle under the rays OF g
be ating SUN. There were no acconaEo-
dstions at the fort, and Gen. Meaghs,r
| was invited by CapJ. Doran Gf TIE
Missouri River steamer G a. Thonlp-
son, which was moored 10 The landing,
to take up his quarters in one Of the
state rooms. The sun had just gone
down when Gen Meagher and the
Captain TOOK their chairs out on The
guards Of the boat fof pleasant chat.
Meagher was much attached to Capt.
|
ness he had shown the Generals wife
on her wav up the riy er from St, Louis.
The night WAS pieassnt--one Of these
lyrical summer nights which are the
charm of life in Montana; but there
was a storm brewing ,n tle mountains
and the clouds were fast gathering.
The two men lighted cigars, and after
some desultory conversation. Gen.
Meagher took up q copy Of Gerald
Griffin's "Co]legians," which Capt,
Doran had laid down, and began to
read. he read apparently with much
interest for half an hour, when laying
the book down, he complained Of being
nervous and weary. This was at $50
Capt. Doran having persuaded hlm
to retire to his room. had gone below
only a short time when he heard g.
splash in the water and the cryof man
overheard. The river at thae point
was about twelve feet deep, with cur
rent rushing at the rate OF nine miles
all hour. It had grown by this time TO.
be dark and cloudy, aud no object
could be discerned in the water, The
glints ct several lanterns were thrown
across the moving stream and active
efforts were made to hasten to his res
cue, but all efforts proved useless
Cannons wered fred the next day and
the river was dragged for miles below
the fort, but the body was never re-
covered. There was a large coil OF rope
near the guard-rail where Meagher fell
overheard 1t is supposed he LETT Lis
stateroom for some purpose stumbled
over the coil OF rope caught at and
missed the guard rall, which was low
and insecure, and fell head-long into
the water below. There are several
small islands rising from the bed Of the
river directly below this point, and
whether the body was ever washed
. ashore upon one Of these and became
the prey of prowling Indians is not
known. The Indians were active and
hostile in the neighborhood of these lit
tie islands, and any attempt to reach
LuSIu WUu1u udYO OCCI. 4AauSuU WIZ
danger and possible death, SO that no
one could be found who had the hardi-
hood to make the shores Of the lower
islands. The Governor of the Terri
tory, upon hearing tae news, offered q
reward for the recovery of the the body
and ordered the Territorial Offices and
buildings draped IN mourning Mrs.
Meagher also offered a large reward for
the body. Resolutions Of respect and
coincidence were passed at various meet
I ing, and the deepest evidences Of gen
eral grief were announced from all
parts Of the country.
4 Chief Stetson has received about
700 applicants for the sixty new ap-
pointments sooD to be made for service
! in the Fire department.. From this
it may be inferred that there will be
a good many disappoi trnents. 55